Riley and Avery

So, we are weaning Riley off of her meds. She started having freaky side-effects. Outbursts of defiance and violence. Depression (yup, in a 4yo). She would curl into a ball and say that she is afraid that Mommy and Daddy don't love her and that we'll throw her in the dumpster while crying that heart-wrenching cry. And she'd say that she only had bad thoughts and bad dreams and just can't have good thoughts. She didn't want to play with her friends or ride her beloved two-wheeler. So we called her doc and are now in the weaning mode. Sweet. She doesn't need it anymore anyway.

Riley is starting to really write words now. Just today she wrote October (which she spelled correctly), turtle (trdl), cart (crt), cow (cao), and cat. She is spelling phonetically, so vowels are usually left out unless they're really obvious. She's doing this all on her own. Strangely enough, she is really only interested in writing (very interested) but she finds reading dull. She did read four B.O.B books, but really resisted. She sounded the words out just perfectly, but didn't seem to be enjoying it, so when I suggested that we stop, she said that she wanted to continue. I think the only reason she forced herself to do it was because I said that reading and writing go hand-in-hand. I don't really think that she believed me. Or maybe she thought it would please me. I didn't please me at all. I don't want her doing it if she doesn't enjoy it. I don't think I'll bring out the B.O.B books for a while unless she asks. Geez.

I had a rather complex conversation with Riley (against my will). She was watching a show about the end of the universe on National Geographic. I wasn't really watching it because outer space is Rudi's territory. She ran to me and said that we are the only galaxy. I told her that there are many many galaxies in our universe. She told me that the show said that there was only one. Well, she watched the show again (she can't get enough of certain topics) and came to me and said that the galaxies that we see are only reflections and that reflections don't exist, therefore we're the only one. Ah, flawed logic. I suppose they were talking about the reflector lens on a telescope and I had to explain to her that reflections themselves don't exist, but the object they are reflecting do exist. Like Riley in the mirror is not real, but the Riley it's reflecting is real. Oh, so complicated. Oh yeah, she also said "The universe is not going to explode. It's just going to get really hot and really dark. So you're going to have to learn to deal with it, Mom. You're just gonna have to stand the coldness." She knows I hate the cold. Funny girl.

We went for the coffin races in Manitou Springs today. It was honestly the most free fun we've had in a long time. Rudi didn't go last year because he was working (imagine that!) but he really had a lot of fun. Usually fun for Rudi involves spending money, but he really had a blast, which made me happy. Riley and Avery also had a great time, collecting leaves and sticks and running around like feral animals. We did buy coffee and drinks for the girls, but that was it. Not too shabby. Oh man, and the weather was fabulous today. I seriously couldn't have asked for more. Sunny, warm, just perfect. It got windy at times and the girls briefly wore jackets, but that didn't last long.

I think we're planning on staying in tomorrow. Money is tight tight tight and the house is in need of attention, as is my homework. Perhaps I can get Rudi to take the girls somewhere free while I clean. It works so much better that way.